West Glamorgan Cadets Snag Top Honour from King’s Rep
Seven heroes from West Glamorgan—six of them young cadets—have been honoured by the King’s official representative in the county. The appointment of four standout cadets as Lord-Lieutenant cadets for 2023 was the highlight of a star-studded ceremony in Swansea.
Meet the Rising Stars of West Glamorgan Cadets
- Cadet Colour Sergeant Madison Chaplin (Gwent and Powys ACF) from Neath, a proud member of the Chaplin cadet family, has marched with her county’s Band and Drums since joining as soon as she was eligible.
- Cadet Flight Sergeant Ioan Osbourne (No 3 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets) from Swansea, who joined 360 (Llwchwr) Squadron in 2019, juggles tutoring, leading the squadron band, and flying with flair.
- Cadet Corporal MacKenzie Bryan (Dyfed and Glamorgan ACF), also from Neath, dreams of becoming an RAF pilot and proudly guarded King Charles III during his Cardiff Castle visit in 2022.
- Able Cadet Jessica Flynn of Swansea Sea Cadet Corps, who joined at 12, is described as a shining beacon of enthusiasm, aiming to become a cadet staff member at 18.
One-Year Role Packed with Prestigious Duties
The cadets’ year-long stint as Lord-Lieutenant cadets means rubbing shoulders with high-profile events—think Remembrance ceremonies, Royal visits, and parades. Around 80 guests gathered at John Chard VC House, Swansea, for the appointment ceremony hosted by Mrs Louise Fleet JP, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan.
Celebrating Dedication Across the Community
The event also honoured adult achievers, including Sergeant Caroline Fennessy of the 157 (Welsh) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, who bagged the Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificate of Merit for outstanding service.
With nearly 5,000 cadets across Wales honing skills through community work, charity support, and hands-on activities—and backed by 1,500 volunteering instructors—the future of UK’s cadet forces looks bright.
The awards evening was organised by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) for Wales, a stalwart supporter of the Armed Forces for over a century.
